Tower of Paradise

Chapter 39: Hidden passageway (2)

I watched as midnight loomed over the orphanage. The other children slept peacefully in their beds, as did the caretakers in their dormitories, unaware of what we were about to do.

I was in the library with Cassie and Reinhardt. The irony didn't escape me: this place, supposedly designed to enhance our intellectual development and keep us "happy" with minimal stress, would be the setting for our first true act of rebellion.

As I contemplated the imposing shelves, I couldn't help but reflect on the deceptive nature of this space. The library, with its architecture that more resembled an ancient temple than a simple reading room, was another example of the elaborate facade they had built.

Its dimensions were truly impressive, especially considering we were in an orphanage seemingly forgotten by God. The shelves rose to the ceiling, filled with all kinds of reading material, from simple picture books to complex academic texts. It was here where we were supposed to learn about the world, though I knew the information was carefully filtered.

I watched as Reinhardt addressed Cassie in his usual kind tone.

—Did you sleep well?

—Yes, thank you.

She replied briefly.

I immediately noticed the tension in her voice, Cassie's unease was as evident to me as the words written in the books that surrounded us.

—Why do you seem so uneasy?

I asked her directly, fixing my gaze on her. I knew the answer, of course, but sometimes it was necessary for people to express their concerns out loud.

—That's...

Cassie hesitated, her fingers moving nervously.

—Don't worry too much.

I told her, trying to convey some tranquility.

—Is it that obvious?

She asked.

I didn't respond immediately. Of course her nervousness was understandable; what we were about to do was full of risks... However, it was necessary.

Reinhardt, perhaps trying to lighten the tension of the moment, looked toward the shelves and asked:

—How many books are there really?

—Most likely there are thousands

—Let's begin then

Agreed Reinhardt.

—Let's do our best.

Added Cassie, and we all nodded slightly at her comment.

We quickly entered the room before anyone could discover us. It was literally a dark hallway made of limestone, with no option but to move forward as there was no way to go back.

We advanced slowly, step by step. I knew that the atmosphere in the library and in this corridor would be completely opposite. This was a race against time from the beginning.

As we kept moving forward, I could notice the doubts on my companions' faces. I walked forward carefully, making sure not to miss any detail.

The minutes dragged on as we advanced. The walls seemed to observe us, and the echo of our steps created an unsettling sensation that we weren't alone. It was Reinhardt who first noticed something strange about our progress.

—Something's not right.

He muttered, stopping the group. His eyes scanned the walls with analytical intensity.

—We've been walking for more than five minutes, but the architecture... it's exactly the same. The same stones, the same patterns...

—We're walking in circles.

Completed Cassie with frustration. Her gaze stopped on something particular.

—Wait... do you see that? On the walls...

I directed the light to where Cassie was pointing. Indeed, almost imperceptible at first glance, tiny runes flickered on the walls with an irregular rhythm, like dying stars in a stone sky.

I moved closer to examine them better. My expression turned serious while studying the ancient symbols.

They were designed to keep us trapped in a constant loop, which would cause us to give up and surrender in case we discovered the hidden corridor by mistake. Very clever...

Reinhardt approached as well, his blue eyes reflecting the faint light of the runes while analyzing them.

—It's a complex pattern. Look how the symbols intertwine... it's not just a linear sequence, but an interconnected network.

—Oh!

Exclaimed Cassie suddenly, her eyes shining in understanding.